Tony Jaa is being touted as the next Jackie Chain or Bruce Lee by both the press and the movie company that is releasing his first movie, Ong-bak. Its no fucking exaggeration! In fact with Bruce Lee dead and Jackie Chan hitting 50 this year, Jaa is the rightful inheritor to that crown. The moves he creates in Ong-bak are like nothing ever seen before on film. You will be in awe then wince as he sails both of his knees into an assailants head.

Ong-bak takes place in Jaas homeland of Thailand where he plays Ting, a man who must retrieve the head of the town's Ong Bak [Buddha statue]. A former native of the village has stolen the head to win favor with a local crime boss. Ting must travel to the mean streets of Bangkok, where he's forced to compete in illegal street fights, taking on both local and foreign opponents to win the head of Ong Bak from the ruthless crime boss.

Daniel Robert Epstein: The big push on Ong-bak is that it has no wirework or CGI, whose choice was that?

Tony Jaa: It was my and my Master Panas idea. We wanted to create something new and to be able to showcase my talents and show that a person with extensive training is able to do this. Youve seen plenty of movies with stunts with wires but now people will be awed. When I hear them cheer thats what makes me proud and happy.

DRE: You practice the art of Muay Thai.

TJ: Yes and Muay means boxing. In the film I also use Muay Thai Boran which means ancient Thai boxing. There are three types of Muay Thai but they all evolved from Muay Thai Boran. Muay Thai Boran is an art thats beautiful and dangerous but also teaches you humility as well. It was an art that was practiced during wartimes.

The second form of boxing you see is the stage boxing which has a lot of rules. With rules the movements become halted because they are too dangerous.

DRE: Im a big guy myself and if we were facing one another to fight, whats the first move you would do?

TJ: I would probably not do anything but I would ask why you would want to hurt me [laughs].

DRE: Muay Thai looks deadlier to me than other forms of martial arts Ive seen in the movies because its all knees and elbows. Is it considered deadlier or more dangerous?

TJ: Any martial art is dangerous. Its really up to the person practicing it to know how dangerous it will be. But with Muay Thai you are taught to fight your opponent closer than with other forms of martial arts so when you see it performed it looks deadlier and dangerous.

When you look at Muay Thai Boran you see that its more of an art and the movements are more graceful than what you usually see. Often what you see is more aggressive fighting.

DRE: The most impressive sequence in Ong-bak is definitely when you were kicking ass while your legs were on fire. That must have been wild.

TJ: We already had the moves that we wanted to do but we wanted to portray Muay Thai Boran in a different way than anyone had seen before. We all thought of using fire. First we did a demo tape with a stuntman doing it which worked out. Then we put the safety gel on me but after I got lit on fire we had to wait for the cameras to speed up. Then during that period the fire started coming up stronger and stronger and I burned off my eyelashes.

DRE: How long did you train for the market chase scene?

TJ: Preparation for the whole movie took four years and during that time I learned all the stunts. But during actual shooting, some shots took one take and others took five takes. The market chase scene was the hardest and most strenuous scene to film because there was a lot of jumping and a lot of power needed to be used.

DRE: I thought the story in Ong-bak was a bit better than most martial arts films. Did you work on the story and was it very important to you?

TJ: There was a big emphasis on story because we wanted to portray Thai people in the rural areas. We wanted the audience to see the struggle of people who move to rural areas and how they stay afloat. We wanted the audience to get a variety of flavors from the movie such as action, drama and comedy. Even though Ive been practicing martial arts my whole life to get those flavors across I used an acting coach for the first time.

DRE: What do you think of your acting?

TJ: I like it because it fits my character.

DRE: Luc Besson cut the version of Ong-bak that is being released in American theatres. Did you work with him much?

TJ: I worked with Luc Besson promoting the film in France. We did demonstrations for journalists and he let me use him for the stunts.

DRE: Religion is an important part of Ong-bak, are you religious?

TJ: Yes Buddhism and religion is an important part of my life. Muay Thai and religion go together because you need the meditation involved in Buddhism for Muay Thai.

DRE: I realize that it is very early in your career but do you want to get to the point where you write and direct your own films then do American films like Jackie Chan does?

TJ: Youll have to wait and see.

DRE: Jackie Chan is very comedic and a good disco dancer. Would you want to do anything like that?

TJ: Thats a talent of Jackie Chans to do comedy but as for me youll have to wait and see.

DRE: What do you do for fun when youre not training or working?

TJ: I like to do a variety of things such as read, meditate and I always train a lot. At home I like to walk on my hands to go to the bathroom, watch movies and listen to music. I also go to temple to make offerings and I like to go to places with a lot of nature.

SO much better than Bruce Lee in every single way! Doesnt have the humor aspect of Jakie Chan but thats not such a loss when your staring at the screen like this
Would be great to see them in a film together, more than Chan cameo in Warrior King that is.